Healthy Skin Tips

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It protects our muscles, helps hold moisture in the body, gives us our identity and is the first thing anyone notices at first glance. The beauty industry makes billions of dollars promoting products to keep the skin flawless and glowing, but you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to do so.

Here are five quick and inexpensive ways to keep your skin healthy and smooth.

Drink more water.

When the body is dehydrated, the skin becomes dry,cracked and brittle. Keep your skin looking refreshed and moisturized from the inside out by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. You can also try alkaline water and coconut water that both hydrate the body better than regular tap or mineral water.

Get proper amounts of rest.

When you are tired, blood doesn’t flow efficiently, which can cause the skin to look dull and lifeless. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep nightly will help the body produce collogen which helps the skin remain plump and smooth. Sleep also helps in the process of  skin cell regeneration. It’s no wonder they call a few extra hours of sleep beauty rest.

Skin cells die off and regenerate on a daily basis ,so it is important to exfoliate the skin in order to help with the shedding process. Using an exfoliating body wash, sponge or washcloth can help to scrub away dead skin and even the skin tone. Natural sugar scrubs smell amazing and are an eco-friendly and safe way to purify the skin.

Moisturize right out of the shower.

Skin that contains more melanin (darker skin) tends to become dry and ashy, especially when exposed to hard water or gusty winds. The best way to keep your skin silky smooth and highly moisturized is to apply your moisturizer coming right out of the shower or bath. Patting the skin dry and applying oil or lotion after cleansing helps lock in the moisture from the water and leaves your skin feeling hydrated.

Avoid fried foods.

You are what you eat and it definitely shows up on the face. Fried foods increase the amount of oil in the body as well as increase acid levels that can send the skin’s sebaceous (oil) glands into overdrive, causing clogged pores on the face. Swap out that fried chicken for a baked version and add some green vegetables to the meal to help keep the acid levels within the body in check . 

For more skin and beauty articles, visit the BlackDoctor.org Healthy Living – Skin and Beauty center.